George Godbeer – Toothill

April 2017

Pervert walks free from court

A man who repeatedly molested a young boy and distributed indecent images of children over Facebook has walked free from court.

George Godbeer stroked the leg of the child, who was aged eight or nine years old, touching his bare skin after putting his hand down his trousers.

And Godbeer, 21, of Yarmouth Close, Toothill, also posted two pictures of boys aged between 10 and 12 engaging in sex acts on social media platforms.

But after Swindon Crown Court heard he had a supportive family he was put on a suspended sentence.

Judge Tim Mousley QC said “I have read twice now the report of the psychologist Dr Newman which deals very fully with your life and your background and your vulnerabilities and as well as that I have had the benefit of seeing you give evidence at trial.

“I take into account you are someone of good character, your age, your lack or maturity your low intelligence and emotional difficulties.

“Balancing all these factors the best the best I can, I have come to the conclusion to pass a period of imprisonment but to suspend it. I hope that will deter you behaving in this way ever again.”

He imposed a one-year jail term suspended for 18 months with 30 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.

Godbeer will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order, restricting his liberty, and must register as a sex offender for 10 years. He is also barred from working with children.

Earlier the court heard that the US authorities spotted him uploading the vile images of young boys engaging in sexual activity on to Facebook.

Godbeer had abused the young lad when he went to his house to play computer games with his brother between April 2014 and February last year.

He had also been accused of molesting the lad and three other boys, one aged 10 or 11 and the other two aged 12 or 13, but was cleared of those charges by a jury.

Godbeer told police that while he knows the children, and often played with them, he denied ever touching them improperly.

It was alleged he touched the other boys when he played with them at Bellver Park, Toothill.

He denied a multi-incident count of sexual assault of a child under 13 but was convicted. He admitted two counts of distributing indecent images of children.

April 2017

Jail warning to man, 21, convicted of child sex offence

A man who repeatedly molested a young boy has been told he must register as a sex offender.

And 21-year-old George Godbeer could be jailed after a jury convicted him of abusing the lad when he was eight or nine years old.

He had denied sexually assaulting the child and three other boys, one aged 10 or 11 and the other two aged 12 or 13, and stood trial at Swindon Crown Court.

While he was cleared of eight counts following a trial, the panel of six men and six women found him guilty of one charge that alleged that between April 2014 and February last year, on at least two occasions, he placed his hand down the trousers of the little boy touching his skin.

The jury heard how the victim was a friend of Godbeer’s little brother and he would often go to the lad’s house to collect his sibling and bring him home.

When he was there he would sometimes go upstairs and play computer games with the victim’s brother, who was closer to his age.

It was then that he took the opportunity to stroke the youngster’s leg and put his hand down his trousers.

Godbeer, who is bisexual, told police that while he knows the children and often played with them, he denied ever touching them improperly.

Judge Tim Mousley QC adjourned the case to Tuesday, May 2, so a presentence report can be prepared by the probation service and released him on bail.

He said: “He must register his details with the police. The length of time that his details remain on the sex offender register depend on the sentence I impose in three weeks’ time.”

Timothy Moores, prosecuting, said the Crown would also be seeking a sexual harm prevention order to restrict his liberty when sentence is passed.

Godbeer was cleared of abusing the other boys when he allegedly led them playing what he called ‘the bear game’ at Bellver Park in Toothill.

The 10 or 11-year-old, who Godbeer had messaged on social media saying ‘hey sexy’, sparking the inquiry, also claimed he had been groped while playing at Shaw Ridge Park.

The youngster and one of the older lads also said they had been touched improperly while playing computer games.

Godbeer, of Yarmouth Close, Toothill, denied sexual activity with a child and eight counts of sexual assault of a child, being found not guilty of all but one.